The Institute of Work, Employment and Society (IWES), a fast-growing Institute of excellence for development and advancement of knowledge through research, training, consultancy and advocacy was established to develop the human resources and society at both national and international levels.
Prof. Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, Vice-Chancellor of the University, who launched the Institute said, “the establishment of IWES, will no doubt make significant contributions to resolving the challenges facing the labour front, especially issues confronting the employer and the employee.”
He further urged the key stakeholders of the Institute such as the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, labour unions, as well as the academic community to support the Institute in its activities.
Dr. Mrs. Mary Naana Essiaw, Director of IWES, recounting the need for the Institute said, “Universities such as UPSA are being urged to generate relevant and quality research that would address sustainable developmental goals and the nation’s socio-economic development, and IWES is poised to do this.”
Speaking at the Public Lecture on the topic, Ms. Catherine M. Gerard, Director of Programmes for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration at the Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, New York, mentioned that the collaborative leadership style, as a creative process of working synergistically to reach interest based solutions must be adopted in these recent times which is confronted with “wicked” problems and scarce resources to reduce the impact of the increasing politicization in the public service.
“Our contention is that collaboration requires individuals who take a different approach to public management and redefine leadership from traditional bureaucratic thinking to relational thinking. My deepest desire is for careerists and political appointees to focus together on the important issues their ministries, nations, and people face,” she concluded.
Ms. Gerard, has over 30 years of experience in teaching, writing and consultancy in the fields of human resource management and leadership. Present at the event were distinguished guests such as the Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, heads of labour unions, as well as the academic community.
